15 Oct New Nurse Anaesthesia Programme in Sierra Leone
Anaesthesia. Tricky to pronounce, impossible to spell. Yet, within surgeries, anaesthesia is essential. Without it, surgical capacity in a country is severely limited.
The World Health Organization recommends 20 anaesthesiologists per one million people. However, in Sierra Leone, there is just one anaesthesiologist per one million people.
Around 90 per cent of surgical procedures in Sierra Leone are conducted without a trained anesthesiologist and the perioperative mortality rate (the percentage of deaths that occur within 30 days of surgery or anaesthesia) in Sierra Leone can be as high as 1 in 20 for major surgeries.
For that reason, we are delighted to be announcing a new groundbreaking effort to strengthen the anaesthesia care workforce in Sierra Leone. By training specialised nurse anaesthetists, we’ll be ensuring the sustainability of healthcare improvements, long after Mercy Ships leaves port in Freetown.
New Nurse Anaesthesia Programme
Mercy Ships has partnered with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and the University of Sierra Leone to establish the Nurse Anaesthesia Diploma Programme.
“Our partnership with the Ministry of Health and the University of Sierra Leone is crucial for developing long-term solutions to the healthcare challenges here,” explains Suzanne Thomas, Director of Education, Training, and Advocacy (ETA) at Mercy Ships. “The Nurse Anaesthesia Diploma Programme was specifically requested by our partners at the Ministry of Health, recognising the urgent need for more trained anaesthesia providers in government hospitals.”
The programme, which began in April 2024 with 20 experienced nurses, specially selected from across Sierra Leone, focuses on providing comprehensive training in anaesthesia.
The course’s curriculum includes theoretical knowledge and practical skills, with initial training conducted in the simulation centre aboard the Global Mercy.
Josefin Tapper, a volunteer anaesthesia team leader on the Global Mercy, works closely with the healthcare professionals who come on board for training.
“It’s been really rewarding to have medical professionals from across Sierra Leone on board and sharing their skills,” Josefin says. “I think that’s the way to go if you want to make a lasting impact in the countries we serve, to mentor, educate, to advocate for our colleagues here so that they can have a better chance of doing their job to their best ability.”
One of the tutors who is helping to facilitate the training, Hailemariam Kasim, is an assistant professor of Anaesthesiology at the University of Dilla, Ethiopia, and an Anaesthetist Consultant with several years of academic and research experience.
“The Nurse Anaesthesia Diploma Programme in Sierra Leone is a beacon of hope, addressing the critical shortage of anaesthesia care providers and directly contributing to the reduction of the high burden of surgical disease in the country,” says Kasim. “This programme is not just about training; it’s about empowering a new generation of healthcare professionals who will play a pivotal role in transforming the healthcare landscape of Sierra Leone, making safe surgical care accessible to all.”
From practical training on board the Global Mercy, to lectures and discussions in a classroom setting held in the School of Nursing in Freetown, graduates will bolster the number of anaesthesia providers in the country, increasing Sierra Leone’s capacity to perform vital surgeries safely.
“We are getting a very high-quality education from our trainers here,” said Mohammed Bangura, one of the students. “We know professional medical training can be challenging and anaesthesia is no exception since it is a highly specialised field, requiring a deep understanding of complex medical concepts, technical skills, and critical thinking abilities that are crucial in ensuring positive patient outcomes.”
Transforming the healthcare landscape of Sierra Leone
“Sierra Leone has a population of over 8 million but only about 50 nurse anaesthetists and two anaesthesiologists in government service,” explains Dr Sandra Lako, Country Director for Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone “The estimated need is at least 200 anaesthesia providers.
“By training an initial cohort of 20 nurses and planning for additional ones, we aim to make a substantial impact on the surgical workforce.”
The impact of the Nurse Anaesthesia Diploma Programme extends beyond immediate training. The collaboration aims to ensure that trained nurse anaesthetists are deployed effectively across the country, especially in rural and underserved areas that lack anaesthesiologists, improving access to safe surgery for millions of Sierra Leoneans.
The Ministry of Health has committed to employing these students, which is a critical step in addressing the workforce shortage and ensuring that trained professionals remain in the public health system where they are most needed.
Mercy Ships will support the programme for three years, including providing two nurse anaesthesia tutors. These tutors will not only train the students but also help develop a local faculty, creating a self-sustaining educational infrastructure that will continue to produce qualified anaesthesia providers for years to come.
Dr Lako reflected on the broader implications of this initiative: “Our assessment in Sierra Leone highlighted the gaps in the surgical workforce. When we look at nurse anaesthesia, in particular, the shortage is stark. By working with our partners to meet this need, we are not just training individuals but building a system that can sustain itself and continue to grow.”
Your support makes this work possible. Thank you!